The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) expects to record a strong growth of timber and wood product exports to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2005.
MTC chief executive officer Ismail Awang told a seminar in Dubai that exports to the UAE were worth US$30.9m during the first quarter of 2005.
In 2004, timber product exports to the Middle East country were valued at US$130.2m – 39% of Malaysia’s total timber product exports to West Asia for the year.
Sawn timber shipments to UAE in 2004 were worth US$17.94m, MDF (US$29.50m), plywood (US$18.46m) and wooden and rattan furniture (US$63.13m).
Mr Awang said the UAE was the largest export market for Malaysian timber products and furniture in the Middle East.
He predicted increasing demand for building materials due to the country’s booming construction sector.
